Amsterdam-Bateman Engineering reports that it has been awarded a contract for the construction of the sulfuric acid facilities at the Ambatovy nickel project in Madagascar. The US$36 million fixed-price, lump-sum contract covers the erection and commissioning up to handover for the hot commissioning of two 2,750 mt/d sulfur burning acid plants. This construction contract follows the award, in August 2007, of a US$100 million contract from the Ambatovy nickel project for engineering of and procurement for the plants. The process engineering during this phase was undertaken in collaboration with the Canadian technology company Noram Engineering and Constructors Ltd., who are the holders of the acid plant process technology, and with whom Bateman Engineering has entered into a long-term technology license agreement. The 5,500 mt/d per day facility will comprise a shared sulfur melting and storage area and two independent sulfur burning acid plants. Construction and commissioning of the first acid plant is due to be completed by the end of September 2009, with completion of the second acid plant expected by the end of December 2009.
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